Entertainment

Tilda Swinton reflected on her time starring in the 2016 Marvel movie Doctor Strange, where she was controversially cast as the Ancient One — a character who, in the comics, is a man of Asian descent. 

Swinton, a Scottish actress, found herself in a precarious situation once her casting was announced — the character was changed from Asian to Celtic — with critics decrying Marvel’s decision as so-called ‘whitewashing.’

Looking back at the controversy in a new interview with Variety, Tilda called the situation a “hot, sticky, gnarly moment,” but necessary because it forced a conversation on whitewashing and how to improve diversity in movies.

“The audience feels ever more empowered to contribute to the narrative and to feel heard within the narrative, and that’s a really healthy social development,” said Swinton.  “The way in which people get listened to is by speaking up and getting hot. And sometimes, it needs to get messy.”

The actress also offered her thoughts on Marvel president Kevin Feige‘s apology during a May 2021 interview with Men’s Health, where he called the outcry a “wake-up call” and said he regretted the casting choice.

Tilda said, upon reading his full statement, she was “very, very grateful that he said that.”  Still, when Swinton was asked if she’s noticed any substantial change in Hollywood in the years since the public backlash, she answered that the industry has  a “long, long, long road” ahead.

“There are big shiny claims made and big public shows made, and everybody claps, and it all looks great. And that is not what we’re talking about,” she declared. “We’re talking about institutionalized, endemic fairness across the board. Ask me that in 100 years.”

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

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Storm Reid has launched her swimsuit collection with PacSun on her 18th birthday today.

The Euphoria actress caught up with People to shares details about her new line, which is designed to make people feel confident in their bodies.

“It’s just all about trying to define what beauty is and be what beauty is without restriction and not trying to be perfect, trying to be perfectly imperfect,” Reid tells People. “It’s about not only empowering yourself but empowering others around you.”

Reid’s collection features a variety of swimsuit styles, as well as cover-ups, head wraps, tops, pants and more. There are also pieces named after the women who inspire her, including R&B duo Chloe x Halle, model Gigi Hadid, and Euphoria co-star Zendaya.

Reid says her sense of fashion and style also came from her mother, Robyn Simpson, who used to tell her, “‘You wear the clothes. The clothes don’t wear you.'”

“It’s a phrase that sounds very simple, but it’s very profound,” Reid says. “I think my confidence really comes from my mom, and her always just empowering me and letting me know that I look beautiful and that I was wearing things for myself, not for others.”

Aside from her swimsuit line, Reid says fans are in for another surprise regarding the upcoming season of Euphoria, which she’s currently filming for HBO.

“Just hold your horses for season two,” she says. “I think there’s been growth in all of the characters. They’re the same, but they’re vastly different from who they were in season one,” adding, “I think that’s why people love the show so much, because it’s relatable.”

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After four seasons on The View, Meghan McCain announced Thursday that she’s leaving at the end of the season.

“It is a privilege to work alongside such strong, brilliant, intelligent, incredible broadcasters like the four of you. You are the most talented women on all of television hands down and it has been so incredible,” McCain said to her co-hosts in announcing her departure.

Declaring “This was not an easy decision,” McCain added, “I’m just eternally grateful to have had this opportunity here so, seriously, thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart.” She also implied that COVID-19 had something to do with her decision, sharing in part that the pandemic has “changed the way I’m looking at my life, the way I’m living my life, the way I want my life to look like.”

McCain, 36, the daughter of the late Sen. John McCain. joined as a co-host of the Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show in October 2017, and as the lone conservative voice on the show would often spar with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.  On Thursday’s show, Behar called McCain a “formidable opponent,” adding, “You’re no snowflake, missy!”

“It’s such a privilege to be on the show. It’s such an iconic show. It’s so iconic to be in this chair that [Elisabeth Hasselbeck] made so great,” McCain said at the top of her first show on Oct. 9, 2017. “I watched Elisabeth in college, and to be the conservative on this show is something I take very seriously, and I’m excited to bring a different perspective to the show.”

So far, there’s no public indication of what McCain may do next.

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